2004 volunteer award winnersThe winners of RLT's volunteer awards for 2003-2004 were as follows. Click on the names to read their commendations. The remaining commendations will be posted as soon as I get them. Charles V. York, Jr. Volunteer Service Award: Glenn A. Miller Technical Service Award: Al Wolfheimer Volunteer Awards:
David Watts - Charles V. York Jr. Theatre Service AwardPresented by Cate Foltin Tonight I have the pleasure of the presenting the Charles V. York Jr. Theatre Service Award. As many of you know, in the 1978-1979 season, RLT renamed its Annual Distinguished Service Award to honor this man, who was so active in service at RLT. Mr. York was involved with RLT during the 60s and served 6 years on the Board of Directors. In 1964 he received RLT's Distinguished Service Award for his efforts in bringing about renovations and additions to the theatre. A plaque is presented each year at the Annual Meeting to an individual who has exemplified service to the theatre and our recipient this year is a shining example of such dedication and service. Tonight's recipient was an easy choice for us this year. For the past couple of years, our recipient has been involved in every facet of the theatre - on stage and off, behind-the-scenes and in front. They have served on committees and production staffs; they have ushered, house managed, stage managed, chased after children and adults alike; helped with fund raising and helped with administrative issues such as the new computers, Web site development and list serves. This person also currently sits on the board of directors and is an active voice for our volunteers and students. And somewhere in there, this individual even found time to begin a family this year with his wife, Kiron. Our recipient is, of course, David Watts. David, when I was preparing this commentary about your numerous contributions to the theatre, some great stories came to light: all of them funny; some of them even repeatable. But at the heart of all of them, came across your warmth, sense of humor, growing love for the art form and willingness to be a vic... I mean, eager volunteer doing whatever needs to be done to help get the show up and running. In fact, David made his on-stage debut in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever after helping at the auditions and impressing director Carmen Mandley so much, she cast him - much to his chagrin. As an extremely large organization, we'd have a much harder time communicating with each other if not for the contributions of David Watts through the development and implementation of RLT Volunteers.Org and the List Serve. This coming year, we will have a better instrument for scheduling an incredibly tight production and class season with the assistance of the on-line facility scheduling system found and customized by David. As volunteers, we'd not have the tangible memories available to us if not for the Yearbook done by David each year - this year, available on-line shortly. David, thank you for your generosity of spirit, time and energy. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a rousing round of "oi, oi, oi" to the man from the land down under, RLT's 2003-2004 Charles V. York, Jr., recipient: David Watts. Al Wolfheimer - Glenn A. Miller Technical Service AwardPresented by Rick Young The best thing a volunteer can do is to take personal ownership of the theatre. This years Miller award winner hasn't just taken ownership, he holds the deed. We rarely have to ask him for help because he usually offers it first and almost on a daily basis. When we do have to call him, he's usually here fast enough to hang up the phone himself. He is our go-to man. Whether we need to finance it, fix it, or find it; move it, remove it, or improve it he is our go-to man. In the 112 year history of this theatre, no one has ever received this award twice, but sometimes you just can't say thank you enough. The Glenn Amos Miller Award for 2003-2004 goes to the one, the only, the lovely Al Wolfheimer. Joe AliPresented by Mary Stelzenmuller and Janice Genadio You might think a calendar would come in handy to keep track of our box office volunteers, but usually it's the other way around. We keep track of the days of the week by who shows up to volunteer. Our dependable, loyal, and dedicated crew have become our friends over the past few years, keeping work in the box office flowing and making the days fun. Our first recipient never fails to appear on Thursday afternoons. His background in science and computers has been a help during our transition to a computerized box office. We throw a pile of orders at him and in no time they're neatly stacked on the counter, completed. The numbers guy runs and balances credit cards and organizes membership. We always look forward to trading traveling stories and gardening tips. This Wolfie goes to Joe Ali. Jim BatesPresented by Rick Young We have so many wonderful volunteers at RLT it's hard to decide who gets one of these awards. To me, it's when an individual transends mere volunteer status to become a fixture, someone who doesn't have to be called when you need help because somehow they are already there (it's kind of like being a stalker without the binoculars). This a certainly the case with this presentee. This Wolfie should be sub-titled the Masochist In Residence award. One of the most difficult possitions to fill on the production staff is that of Prop Master. The work can easily become overwhelming and the glory can be underwhelming (or at best just plain whelming). But you shouldn't take my word for it, you should try it yourself. Our newest wolfyite not only quickly moved from prop crew, to Prop Crew Chief, to Prop Master, he now asks which show will be the most difficult because that's the one he wants. He ain't just Besty's brother, Jim Bates. Jo Brown and Rebecca JohnstonPresented by Haskell Fitz-Simons One of the most exhilarating aspects of live theatre is that "Flying-without-a-net" feeling one gets performing in front of a live audience. This feeling is amplified at RLT in that we rarely, if ever, enjoy the luxury of having understudies for a given role. Imagine my horror this year when just hours before the preview for Cinderella, dear Sandi Sullivan, our Fairy Godmother, was, as they say, "taken a sudden ill" and was hospitalized with a severe infection. What to do? Well, back in 1980-something, when Terry Shippee had a death in the family, the lot fell to me, and I stepped in as Gertrude for the preview. Terry made it back for opening. Somehow, I just didn't think I could pull Fairy Godmother off, and Vicki was sure of it! After a little thought, we were able to call on the services of two of our most stalwart performers to help us out: Jo Brown, our Step Mama, had, of course, played Fairy Godmother for many years. Jo very graciously agreed to move back to Fairy Godmother. That substitution left another hole to fill. Who would play Step Mama? Well, we immediately thought of another Veteran Cinderella cast-member, Becky Johnston. Becky had played Stepmama a couple of times, her last time being 7 years ago in 1997. It is a testimony to the dedication of both of these wonderful actresses that they agreed without hesitation to undertake the changes and with only 2 ½ hours notice went on in front of an audience (Unsung Heroine: Vicki Olson who fit them each in costumes in that time as well!). Poor Sandi remained unable to perform until the last day of the run, so Becky and Jo played these roles for virtually the entire run. The next two Wolfies go to Jo Brown and Rebecca Johnston. Ben, Ruth, Marie, and Pat BerryPresented by Roger Bridges This wolfie goes to someone who has volunteered in almost every department in the theatre. They have worked on props crews, light crews, sound crews, and dressing crews. They have worked in the scene shop, in the costume shop, and in the office. The most impressive part is that they have done all of this in the span of just two seasons here at RLT. In researching for this presentation I came across a website that says that they are even running for President in 2008! I will read an excerpt from the site:
Wow! With so much going on I don't see how one person can find the time. That's because this award isn't going to one person. It is being presented to four. This Wolfie goes to Ben, Ruth, Marie, and Pat Berry. The Berry Family. Del FlackPresented by Rick Young We have so many wonderful volunteers at RLT it's hard to decide who gets one of these awards. To me, it's when an individual transends mere volunteer status to become a fixture, someone who doesn't have to be called when you need help because somehow they are already there (it's kind of like being a stalker without the binoculars). This a certainly the case with this presentee. The volunteer appeared at RLT a couple of years ago as an actor (which I am willing to overlook). The key adjective for this gentleman is dependable. Whether as an actor, crew member, or ASM, reguardless of the task, it will be done, and done right, and exactly when it is supposed to be done; and folks that's what it's all about. When i needed to cast the crew for Dames At Sea his name was the first on the list. The next Wolfie goes to that lean mean fighting machine, Mr. Del Flack. Pats PalmerPresented by Mary Stelzenmuller and Janice Genadio If we had to sum up the next recipient in one word, we might choose something like clockwork. Every Tuesday she's here to happily do it all: answer phones, process orders, wait on patrons, and run credit cards. If you want to find her in December, try the Fletcher Opera Theatre where she'll be working will call at every performance of Cinderella. Or you might have seen her outside greeting patrons as they stepped off the shuttle bus during the run of Smokey Joe's café, except for one of the rainy days when her sun roof wouldn't close. Always the trooper, she was prepared to drape a tarp over her car and rush over, but we generously gave her the night off. Sometimes we even have to push her out of the door at the end of the day. We couldn't do it without Pats Palmer. Nicole RiflemanPresented by Sarah Corin As a theatre, we are used to thinking about actors who perform on stage and techies who work behind the scenes. But, there’s also a breed of volunteer who supports the theatre behind – behind the scenes. And I am lucky enough to present a Wolfie Award to one of those tonight. This volunteer works so far behind the scenes that there are literally three people in this audience who have met her -- and yet without her RLT would not have the public presence it has today. She’s a creative artist whose work you have all seen. Every time you go to RLT’s Web site to read about upcoming shows, special events and classes her work is all there before you. Nicole Rifleman created RLT’s Web site back when the only person with e-mail in this building was the Managing Director and now, years later, she still designs and runs it. This past year, Nicole offered to completely redesign the site, no small feat considering the amount of information it contains. Try really tooling around on it some time, going from classes to shows to auditions to special events to buying tickets. The thing goes on for days. I think you will all agree that the result is amazing and that thanks to Nicole, we have one of the best theatre sites around. Nicole it is my honor and my pleasure to present you with one of this year’s Al Wolfheimer Volunteer Awards. Leon SabarskyPresented by Roger Bridges This Wolfie goes to someone who is not only a volunteer but also a Season ticket holder, and contributor to the Theatre. This person has been one of my go-to persons when I need a smart, talented and organized person to help out. This person has worked both in front of and behind the scenes, has volunteered at fundraising events and has donated tools to the scene shop. Power tools no less! This cup only has one name on it but really should have two because while this person helps out a lot his beautiful and talented wife has done as much if not more. And, she's a better poker player. This Wolfie goes to Leon Sabarsky. Jim ShaughnessyPresented by Wayne Olson The hat on my head is placed there to honor our next award recipient's love of both baseball and theatre. He is not seen back stage during productions, but is visible attending many of the productions as a member. He has provided for many years help and support to the business, technical and artistic portions of the theatre through the sharing of his knowledge and time about computers and their use within Raleigh Little Theatre. He has also worked on many special computer related projects providing many hours of his time beyond the weekly daytime visits. He also continues to play a key role within the theatre maintaining the computer systems. Jim Shaughnessy will you please come forward to accept the Al Wolfheimer Volunteer Award.
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